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President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on Central African Republic's former president, Francois Bozize and four other men linked to violence and human rights abuses in the country, the White House said on Tuesday.

Also sanctioned were Nourredine Adam, a former minister of public security, and Levy Yakete, an "anti-balaka" Christian militia leader. Bozize, Adam and Yakete were blacklisted by the United Nations on Friday.

At least 22 people, including 15 local chiefs and three local members of staff from medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, have been killed in an attack on a town in Central African Republic, officials said on Sunday.

Most of the casualties died when an MSF-run clinic in the town was attacked while local chiefs were holding a meeting there.

A man stands by the burning wreckage of a car near the PK 12 neighbourhood in Bangui. Credit: REUTERS/Siegfried Modola

French troops secure an area after protesters from an angry mob set fire to the bodies of two Muslim man Credit: REUTERS/Emmanuel Braun

The burnt bodies of two Muslim men have been dragged through the streets in the Central African Republic capital Bangui in what the crowd said was a revenge attack for the disappearance of a Christian taxi driver at the hands of Muslim Seleka rebels.

The landlocked former French colony descended into chaos in March after a mostly Muslim rebel coalition, Seleka, marched into the capital, unleashing a wave of killings and looting. That triggered revenge attacks by Christian militia known as "anti-balaka" (anti-machete).

Djotodia, who was swept to power last March by northern rebels, resigned along with his prime minister on Friday under intense international pressure after they failed to halt months of inter-religious violence.

A UN migration agency is due to start airlifting thousands of foreign nationals from the Central African Republic, following appeals from neighbouring African countries.

Nigerians airlifted from the Central African Republic Credit: Reuters

The International Organization for Migration has said the first three IOM charter flights this weekend will repatriate some 800 Chadians from the war torn CAR capital of Bangui to the Chadian capital N’Djamena.

In a statement, the IOM added: "IOM has received requests for assistance from Chad, Niger, Mali, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to evacuate thousands of their most vulnerable, stranded nationals.

"The organisation is also working with Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon to provide post arrival re-integration assistance to migrants evacuated by their governments."

Doubts have been raised over who can lead the warring Central African Republic despite widespread celebrations across the country at interim president Michel Djotodia's resignation.

News of the unpopular Michel Djotodia's departure saw people dancing in the streets. Credit: Reuters/Emmanuel Braun

A French diplomatic source said there were "no outstanding candidates" and added: "It is important this transition happens as quickly as possible."

France had repeatedly voiced frustrations with Djotodia's government at the ongoing inter-religious violence after sending hundreds of troops to its former colony last month to support an effort to restore peace.

France has said it won't "interfere" with appointing a new leader but suggested neighbouring African nations would have their "favourites". Credit: Reuters/Emmanuel Braun